Compressor



June 29, 1943. IMANlscALco commgssolv Filed llarch 29, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June'29, 1943. P. MANlscALco Y 2,323,058l

' y COMPRESSOR Filed Hafen 29, 1941 4 sheets-sheep 2 V izfamey I Junea29, 1943. P. MANlscALco I 2,323,058

COMPRESSOR F11-ed March .29, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w 1-l1 ---2a K .l

June 29, 1943. P. MANlscALco 2,323,068 l COMPRESSOR Filed March 29, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented 29, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE n 2.32am l i COMPRESSOR Pietro Manlloalco. mollo lll. Application March 29, 1941, Serial No. 385,901 This vention relates to improvemeiis incl.:-

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a compressor of an economical and efiicient construction. and which comprises a unitary cylinder structure including a crankcase with integral cylinders thereon, and also comprises a unitary piston structure including a body with integral pistons on its opposite ends that are reciprocable in said cylinders.

Another object oi.' this invention is to provide a multistage compressor comprising a closed casing which includes a crankcase that serves as a lubricant chamber and has a low pressure cylinder and a smaller high pressure cylinder on its two opposite ends, all in one unitary casting or structure, wherein each cylinder has a valve head mounted on its end and carrying a readily insertable and removable valve assembly therein, for

operatively closing said end.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a compressor comprising an integral piston unit which can be made economically in one casting and consists of the body having a pair o f pistons integral at its'opposite ends, said body being oiset from the longitudinal axis thru the pistons and having channel means extending thru it'for connecting chambers in the pistons; and wherein the drive means for the piston unit is arranged to operate centrally between the pistons, so as to avoid any side thrust or biased driving eiect.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a compressor comprising a body having a pair of integral pistons at its opposite ends containing hollow end parts with valve assemblies therein, and including channelmeans extending thru said body for connecting the interiors of said end parts, thereby providing a substantially hollow body and piston ends making a light and economical construction. y

Another object of this invention is to provide such a compressor which is adapted for compressing gases andA refrigerants, as are used in refrigeration and air conditioning devices, and is also adapted for compressing air.

Another object of this invention is to equip such a compressor with a shut-oir valve which is placed at the junction of the iluid conduit with the compressor, to prevent the loss of compressed iiuid from the conduit and the connected reservoir, .whenever the compressor is detached therefrom, for repairs and the like.

These and various other objects and advantages are attained with this invention, as will beinderends. These heads come apparent from the following description,`

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is shown in its 4preferred form, it being evident that various other arrangements and forms of construction may be resorted to for carryingout the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, taken longitudinally thru the compressor.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof,

a multistage compressorl which comprises a` closed cylinder structure or unit including a casing It having a primary cylinder Il integral on one end and a smaller secondary cylinder l2 ntegral on the other end, extending in opposite 0directions and having their longitudinal axes alined; and this compressor also comprises a compact but light piston unit including a. body I 5 having a primary piston i6 integral at one end and a smaller secondary piston l1 integral at the other end, which are alined and reciprocable in said cylinders.

The cylinders H and l2 are open at their ends and haveV heads 2i 1 and 22, respectively, mounted detachably over the openings, as by iiange means 2|' and 22' on said heads bolted against the cyl- 2i and 22 have each a iluid passage therein, the two passages being shown as including chambers 23 and 24 provided, respectively,with channels 25 and 26 leading to valve devices 2l and 28 which are removably mounted on the'heads 2| and 22, respectively, and are connected by tions 21' and 28' with inlet and outlet conduits 29 and 30, respectively. Valve assemblies 3i and 32 are mounted, each removable as a unit, in the inner ends of said heads 2| and 22, respectively, between the chambers 23 and. and their adjoining cylinders il and I2, respectively, so that 3| includes a valve seat 33 and. a valve element means of couplings or junc-v either assembly can be readily installed or removed.V T'his assembly the valve stem 36: whilethe assembly 32 includes a valve seat 61 and a valve element 66 urged to its closed position by a spring 66 on the valve stem 40.

These valve devices 21 and 26 are provided for shutting ci! the flow of fluid in the conduits 26 and 66, closely adjacent the heads 2I and 22, to avoid loss of fluid from the conduits and their connected containers, whenever the compressor needs tobe detached therefrom. for repairs, etc. Said valve devices include a pair of tubular bodies or main portions '4 Iand 42 threaded to said junctions 21' and 26', respectively, and they are normally open to the connected conduits 26 and 36; while a valve stem 46 with the valve element thereon is adiustably threaded in each of said tubular bodies,'adapted to-be operated by turning its outer angular end 44, for closing the valve, as indicated in Fig. 2, when it is `desired to shut oil the conduit. AV cap 45 is preferably also mounted over said outer end 4.4, tofconceal the same.

The casing I0 supports'thecompressor, and

being 'closed it serves as a chamber for housing lubricant. therein, for lubricating the pistons and the* drive means and the various movable elements therein.

' Bypass" means is preferably also provided, to

inder casing I6, said collars having ange means 16' and 1I' thereon bolted against the casing,

along with suitable sealing means therebetween take care of compressed iiuid-that may have leaked past the pistons into, the casing, and to release any back-pressureproduced due to the different sizes ofthe pistons.,v Said means comprises an escape channel 46 on the casing, and a check valve 41 connected thereto and having an element 46 depressed by a spring 46 regulated for tension by a threaded plug 50 adjustably mounted in the end of valve 41, so that this valve willi open -when the vpressure in the casing becomes excessive. A conduit ,5I connects said valve 41 with the fluid inlet chamber 23 in head 2i, to return the compressed iiuid thereto from the casing. A close meshed screen 41 is preferably mounted between said channel 46 and valve 41, for preventing lubricant passing with said fluid into said valve. 1

'Ihe piston-unit herein is madeof a hollow, light and easy running construction, and it with ,its drive means are arranged so as to prevent creatingside thrust in operating the unit. It therefore has its pistons I6 and I1 made hollow at their end portions, by means of inner partition walls 52 and 53 and outer valve assemblies 54 and 55, respectively, in said end portions, thereby providing piston chambers 52 and 53' therein; While the piston body I5 is offset from the longitudinal axis of the pistons, fand it contains channel means 56 therethru connecting said chambers 52' and 53'. i 4

These valve assemblies 54 and 55 are readily installed and removed each as a unit, and they include, respectively, valve seats 56 and 56 which are threaded in the end openings in the pistons I6 and I1 and `carry stems 66 and 6I having valve elements 62 and 63 slidable thereon and urged to closed position by springs 54 and 65, as illustrated. Said assemblies are shown herein in their preferred form of construction, as are also the cylinder valve assemblies 3i and 32, but they may be provided in some other approved form, mountable and removable each as a unit. The drive means for reciprocating the piston unit comprises a shaft 61 rotatable in a pair of bearing sleeves 66 and 66 seated in a pair of collars 10 and 1I which are mounted in openings 12 and 13 provided in the opposite walls of cylas usual. Said collar 1I has a closingfplug 14 threaded adiustably in its outer end, which is provided with a pocket 15 in its inner end containing therein a bearing plate 16 and a bearing ball 11 that is rotary thereon and against which the inner end 16 of the shaft 61 bears rotatably. The collar 10 has a flanged closing member 16 bolted to its outer end thru which the shaft 61 extends, and a spring 66 in the collar is confined between an enlarged part 6I on the shaft and a ball bearing including a part 62 rotary with the shaft and a part 63 seated against member 16, thus retaining the inner end of the shaft in position against ball 11.

The driving connection between the shaft and the piston unit is arranged to operate along the longitudinal axis of the unit, to avoid causing any `-side' thrust; and in the form disclosed Iherein it comprises eccentric means which includes an eccentric s4 detachably fastened onto the shaft to rotate therewith, as by groove and spline means are provided in the body and in the lug, to fur- 'i nish ample passage to the vlubricating means from the casing to the end parts ofthe pin 66.

In this construction of piston unit and drive means for the oiset body, a slot 95 is provided in the body, as best shown in Fig. 4, thru which the shaft 61 extends; thus enabling the piston unit to reciprocate relative to the rotating shaft; and furthermore enabling the drive shaft to have proper bearing in the two opposite walls of the casing. The drive means including members 64 and 61 hereby also operate centrally or along the longitudinal axis of the pistons and the cylinders, so as to avoid any side thrust or biased driving effect; and these hollow pistons furthermore provide a light and economical construction.

This compressor can likewise be utilized for compressing air, 'as well as gases and the like, by merely detaching the inlet conduit 26 or substituting an air intake mouth therefor; and this hollow arrangement of the cylinder heads, as well cured in place in the pistons I6 'and I1, and the drive means 61 with the pin 66 are also secured in place by the set screw 66, then the eccentric 64 may also be inserted in ring 61, instead of being entered later with the shaft 61. Said piston unit with these connected members thereon is then inserted thru the open end of the primary cylinder II, whereupon the head 2l may be secured on the end of said cylinder; and the shaft 611s then introduced thru the opening 12, either with the leccentric seated thereon, or is inandmtegm witnmdpistonstnebodybfsng ogf serted thru the eccentric if that has been entered v along with the piston unit, whereupon the bolt I casing and a piston unit therein, said piston unit including a slender body having a Dairof integral oppositely extending pistons thereon provided each with an inner cross-wall and an outer valve member thus providing a valved end chamber and containing channel means extending thru the body and connecting said end chambers, said cylinder casing being adapted to house lubricant therein and containing integral cylinders at its opposite ends wherein the pistons reciprocate, a valved inlet head and a valved outlet head provided on the outer ends of these cylinders, a drive shaft provided with bearing means mounted in the opposite' walls of the casing, for providing a closed casing, and means reciprocably connecting the shaft with the pistons and being operative in the lubricant in the casing.

2. A .compressor comprising a closed and unitary casing providing a lubricant chamber and having integral cylinders at its opposite ends, valved inlet and outlet heads mounted on and closing the outer open ends of the cylinders. a piston unit including a body containing a pair of integral pistons at its opposite ends which have each a hollow end part including an integral iny ner partition wall and an outer valve member thereon, thereby providing a pair of valved end chambers, channel means extending thru said body and connecting said hollow end parts, and drive means including a shaft and bearing means mounting itrotary in said casing and having eccentric means thereon operable in the lubricant in the chamber,`thereby providing a closed cas-` ing adapted for lubricating the contained p-istons vand drive means.

3. A compressor comprising a casing containing integral'oppositely extending cylinders thereon provided with valved inlet and outlet means, a piston unit in said casing including a body containing a pair of integral pistons on its opposite ends having each a valved chamber at its end, said body being relatively slender and light and offset from the longitudinal axis thru the pistons, channel means extending thru said offset body and connecting said piston chambers, a slot provided in said body, a shaft and bearing means mounting it rotary inthe casing to extend thru said slot and enable the piston unit to reciprocate relativeto the shaft, and means in the casing operatively connecting said shaft and piston unit for reciprocating the pistons in the cylinders.

4. In a compressor including a casing having a pair of"valved andalined cylinders at its opposite ends, a piston unit comprising a unitary metal-member including a pair of oppositely extending alined pistons movable in said cylinders and having each an end chamber including an inner partition wall and an outer end opening having valve means mounted therein, also hav-- ing a, relatively slender and light body between set from the longitudinal axis of the pistons and having channel means extending therethru and connecting the chambers, and drive means including means operable along the piston axis for reciprocating the piston unit.

5. In a multistage compressor including a valved primary and a valved smaller secondary cylinder at its opposite ends and in allnement, a piston unit comprising a casting consisting of a body having integral oppositely extending primary and secondary pistons thereon which are aimed and reciprooable in said cylinders, said n Ipistons containing each a hollow end portion having an integral inner wal1 and an open outer end, inlet and outlet valve means operatively mounted on said open ends of the pistons thereby providing piston chambers, said body being oi!- set from the longitudinal axis thru the 'pistons and having channel means extending therethru for directly connecting said piston chambers, adapted to have its drive means operable along the piston axis for reciprocating the pistons.

6. A compressor comprising a casing having a pair of valved and alined cylinders at its opposite ends, a piston unit including a body having a pair of oppositely extending integral and alined pistons at its ends reciprooable in said cylinders and containing each a valved chamber in its end, the body being considerably narrower than the pistons and oifset to one side of the longitudinal axis thru the pistons and having channel means extending thru it to connect said chambers, there being a slot thru the body and a lug on one of the pistons, a drive shaft mounted rotary in the casing and extending thru said slot, eccentric means secured on the shaft, and means actuated by the eccentric means and including an arm with means bearing on the eccentric means and also a. pin on the arm connected with the lug and the body for reciprocating the piston unit without causing side thrust.

7. A compressor comprising a casing having a pair of valved and alined cylinders at its opposite ends, bearing means in the side walls of the casing, a piston unit including a pair of oppositely extending alined pistons movable in said cylinders and having each a valved chamber at its end, a piston body connecting said pistons and integral therewith, being relatively slender and light and oiset from their longitudinal axis and having channel means therein connecting said chambers, there being slot means provided t thru said body, and drive means including a shaft rotary in said bearing vmeans and extending thru said slot means and carrying eccentric means having means thereon connected with the piston unit and operable on the piston axis, for reciprocating the pistons without causing side thrust.

8. A compressor comprising a closed casing adapted to contain lubricant and containing a i pair of-valved cylinders integral and alined at its there being a slot provided thru said body, and g drive means including a shaft rotary in said bearing means and extending thru saidslot, en-

shaft, also a pair of coengaging members one connected to the shaft and the other connected with the piston unit and operating along said piston axis within the lubricant in the casing. for reciprocating the pistons without causing side thrust thereto.

9. A compressor comprising a. casing including an integral cylinder thereon having an open buter` end, a piston body operable inthe casing having a piston thereon reciprocable in the cylinder, a head mounted againstsald open end to cover it, a fluid chamber in the head and a channel extending therefrom, a check valve between the ing a pair of oppositely extending cylinders alined and integral thereon, each having an open outer end, a piston unit insaid casing including a pair of oppositely extending alined pistons reciprofcable in said cylinders, a head mounted against each open end to cover it and containing therein a iluid passage and a check valve between said passage and said end. a uid conduit for each head, a shut-oil.' valve mounted detachably on each head, being normally in communication with its passage and provided with means for connection with its iluid conduit, whereby to close oil Vthe conduits, and by-pass means with ad.- justable valve connecting the interiors of the casing and one of said passages, to relieve any excess pressure that may develop in the casing'.

11. A multistage compressor comprising a casing lclosed for containing lubricant therein and including a primary and a 'secondary cylinder integral and alined at the oppositeends and each having an open outer end, a piston unit including a. body having a primary and a secondary piston integral at its opposite ends and :reciprocable in said cylinders, means movablev in the lubricant in the casing for operating the piston unit, an inlet head and an outlet head mounted against and covering the open ends of said pri,-4 mary and secondary cylinders respectively, including each a iiuid passage therein and a checlr valve between it and the connected cylinder end,

and a shut-off valve mounted detachably on each head and including means for connecting it with a iluid conduit, whereby to close oil.' said conduits to prevent escape of compressed iluid therefrom if the compressor needs be detached from the valves and conduits, and a. valve equipped by-pass connecting the interior o! the abling the body to reciprocate relative to the 13. A multistage compressor comprising a closed casing vincluding a larger primary and a smaller secondary cylinderA alined and integral at its opposite ends,l a valved inlet head detachably mounted on the end ofthe primary cylinder, a valved outlet head detachably mounted on the end oi' the' secondary cylinder, a piston unit including a body having a larger primary and a smaller secondary piston alined and integral at its opposite ends andreciprocable in said cylinders, said body `being relatively slender and offset from the longitudinal axis thru the pistons, and driving means including means operating Y ,along the piston axis for reciprocating the pistons,

said piston unit with said operating means being insertable and removable thru said primary cyliny der upon detaching said inlet head.

14. A multistage compressor comprising Va closed casing including a primary and a smaller secondary cylinder aimed and integral at its opposite ends and having each an open outer end, a, chambered 4and valved inlet head detachably mounted on and covering said open inlet end oi ,the primary cylinder, a chambered and valved outlet head detachably mounted onand covering ,the open end of the secondary cylinder, bearing means in the opposite casing walls, a piston unit casing with the passage in the inlet head', to r'elieve back-pressure and excessive pressure that may develop in the casing.

12. The subject matter set. forth in claim 11',`

`whereinthe pistons have valved end chambers,

including a body having a primary and a secondary piston alined and integral at its opposite ends reciprocable -in said cylinders, said body being oiset from the vaxis longitudinally thru theI pistons and being provided with a slot trans versely o! it, a shaft rotary in said bearing means and extending thru said slot, and eccentric means including a member detachably attached to the.

shaft and a member actuated therebyand connected with the piston unit for operating it, the eccentric means being operable along the piston axis, while the piston unit with the eccentric means is insertable and withdrawable thru the open end of the primary cylinder after detachmentoi its head and the withdrawal of the shaft from the eccentric means.

l5. yThe subject matter set forth in claim 14,

l wherein a by-pass with an adjustable check i valve is provided between the interior of the casing and the chamber in the inlet head, and the inlet and the outlet head have each a shut-on lvalve detachably mounted thereon and interposed between its chamber and the associated iluid conduit, adapted to close said conduits when detaching them from the compressor..

16. A compressor comprising a casing having a pair oi' valved and alined cylinders at its opposite ends, a piston unit in said casing consisting of a metal member comprising a relatively slender and light body having a pair of integral oppositely 'extending pistons thereonoperable in said cylinders, each of said pistons including s. hollow end part., containing a cross-wall in the inner end and a valve member mounted in the outer end, thereby providing a valved end chamber, said body beingoset to one side of the longitudinal axis of the pistons and having channel means extending therethru connecting said chambers, and drive means including means operable along the piston axis for reciprocating the piston'unitwithout causing side/thrust.

PIETRO MANISCALCO. 

